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It’s time to Shop
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| H&N photo by Todd E. Swenson Desiree Coen works on a display of popcorn tins at Bi-Mart Wednesday. The store’s doors open at 5:55 a.m. Friday. |
Shoppers, retailers alike prepare for Black Friday
By Megan Doyle
H&N Staff Writer
Mike Kiser got up by 5 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving a few years ago to buy a CD/DVD unit on sale.
Three pallets of the device were gone within an hour.
He doesn’t plan on waiting in line this year for the perfect pair of slippers his dad requested.
He hasn’t found the leather, fur-lined slippers with a hard sole for his dad yet.
“He might just have to make do with what I find him,” he said.
While Kiser sleeps in, thousands of Klamath Basin residents will be up before dawn Friday, shopping for ideal gifts at ideal prices.
Black Friday, retailers say, is the busiest shopping day of the year.
“We’re expecting big things,” said Russ McDonnell, Bi-Mart manager.
About 5,000 customers entered his store the day after Thanksgiving last year, he said. He expects this year to be the same, especially since it looks like roads will be clear for residents outside of Klamath Falls who come into the city to shop.
What to get
Browsing is the best option for some.
Kiser is newly married and hadn’t decided what to get his wife for Christmas.
Jenny Austin, an Oregon Institute of Technology student, predicted she’ll get her gifts for family and friends at the last minute.
She was shopping this week looking for ideas and caught some deals on DVDs.
Pat Alfonzo started shopping early, purchasing toys for her grandchildren.
She wasn’t worried about the toy recalls, because her children sent a specific list of toys.
Klamath area store managers say they pull all recalled items, often before the recall is released to the public.
She also bought gift cards for her three children, who are in the military and stationed in different places around the world.
“Those are the easiest when they’re long distance,” she said.
They’re ready
Stores will be organized, carts and baskets ready, and staff will be waiting to answer questions or ring up purchases, store manager say.
“Typically, this is a day that if you want the day off, you have to be dead,” McDonnell said of his employees.
Most stores keep their workers energized with food and coffee throughout the day.
“Most of us will be here between 3 and 4 a.m. to make sure we’re ready,” said Linda Thompson, Fred Meyer store director.
Stacks of merchandise also will be awaiting the first customers, but will likely dwindle in a few hours.
At Bi-Mart, holiday wreaths are waiting to be bought by customers, as are photo equipment and guns, McDonnell said.
At Fred Meyer, stacks of socks are expected to be popular, Thompson said.
The store has received socks for six weeks.
She expects the day to be well-orchestrated.
“We just have a lot of fun with it,” Thompson said. “You have to keep it fun or you could pull your hair out.”
Three pallets of the device were gone within an hour.
He doesn’t plan on waiting in line this year for the perfect pair of slippers his dad requested.
He hasn’t found the leather, fur-lined slippers with a hard sole for his dad yet.
“He might just have to make do with what I find him,” he said.
While Kiser sleeps in, thousands of Klamath Basin residents will be up before dawn Friday, shopping for ideal gifts at ideal prices.
Black Friday, retailers say, is the busiest shopping day of the year.
“We’re expecting big things,” said Russ McDonnell, Bi-Mart manager.
About 5,000 customers entered his store the day after Thanksgiving last year, he said. He expects this year to be the same, especially since it looks like roads will be clear for residents outside of Klamath Falls who come into the city to shop.
What to get
Browsing is the best option for some.
Kiser is newly married and hadn’t decided what to get his wife for Christmas.
Jenny Austin, an Oregon Institute of Technology student, predicted she’ll get her gifts for family and friends at the last minute.
She was shopping this week looking for ideas and caught some deals on DVDs.
Pat Alfonzo started shopping early, purchasing toys for her grandchildren.
She wasn’t worried about the toy recalls, because her children sent a specific list of toys.
Klamath area store managers say they pull all recalled items, often before the recall is released to the public.
She also bought gift cards for her three children, who are in the military and stationed in different places around the world.
“Those are the easiest when they’re long distance,” she said.
They’re ready
Stores will be organized, carts and baskets ready, and staff will be waiting to answer questions or ring up purchases, store manager say.
“Typically, this is a day that if you want the day off, you have to be dead,” McDonnell said of his employees.
Most stores keep their workers energized with food and coffee throughout the day.
“Most of us will be here between 3 and 4 a.m. to make sure we’re ready,” said Linda Thompson, Fred Meyer store director.
Stacks of merchandise also will be awaiting the first customers, but will likely dwindle in a few hours.
At Bi-Mart, holiday wreaths are waiting to be bought by customers, as are photo equipment and guns, McDonnell said.
At Fred Meyer, stacks of socks are expected to be popular, Thompson said.
The store has received socks for six weeks.
She expects the day to be well-orchestrated.
“We just have a lot of fun with it,” Thompson said. “You have to keep it fun or you could pull your hair out.”
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